Bob Dylan left the stage abruptly during his concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday night, leaving fans bewildered. The legendary singer-songwriter was performing the finale of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour when he walked off after just 90 minutes, having completed 17 songs.
Attendees described the evening as 'transcendentally maddening' and 'unmissable'. Phones were secured in locked pouches, creating an atmosphere of a spiritual cleanse. Dylan's set included classics like All Along the Watchtower and It Ain't Me Babe, but they were rendered almost unrecognisable with new arrangements.
The performance was minimal, with just four musicians on a bare stage. One concertgoer likened it to 'late Auerbach, etched, flinty and fading genius lit up against an almost Beckettian bare stage'. The audience, described as disciples rather than fans, rose to their feet in ecstasy throughout.
Dylan ended with a harmonica solo before walking off, as if he had finally found what he was looking for. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, possibly his last in London.
